This week, a case of mpox clade 1 was confirmed in Region Stockholm. The first in Sweden and the first outside the African continent since the outbreak. During Friday evening, the Public Health Authority issued its first recommendations.
– Mpox is a universally dangerous disease and it is therefore important that you seek care if you have symptoms. The Public Health Agency is continuously monitoring the situation and these recommendations may change at short notice, said Magnus Gisslén, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency.
They are offered to take the vaccine
So far, no other cases have been detected in Sweden, but the Public Health Agency recommends certain groups to be vaccinated against mpox for preventive purposes.
Men and transgender people who have sex with men have a greater chance of being infected, and are therefore recommended to get vaccinated. The risk also increases if you have multiple or new sexual contacts or for preventive (pre-exposure prophylaxis) treatment against HIV.
People who have sex with men for compensation are also recommended to get vaccinated, as well as people who travel to areas with a high spread of infection, and have a greater chance of being exposed.
Laboratory personnel who work with cultivation or with concentrated amounts of infectious monkeypox virus should also take the vaccine, according to the Public Health Agency.
The vaccine is considered to have a good protective effect, after two doses it is estimated to be around 80 percent. Should a vaccinated person fall ill, the illness will usually be milder.
The virologist: Can become airborne
The virus is mainly transmitted through physical contact, but Niklas Arnberg, professor of virology, does not rule out that the virus can be airborne.
– That risk cannot be ruled out, which is why we take this so seriously. That is why the WHO is also declaring a global emergency I would say. This is a so-called DNA virus, it mutates slowly compared to, for example, the coronavirus. Having said that, there is a risk that it could develop and mutate and become airborne, we really don’t want that, says Arnberg.
At the same time, however, he describes Swedish preparedness as good, especially if you compare it to the coronavirus.
– Now we have a lot more knowledge and experience from the latest pandemic
They must be offered vaccines against mpox
Vaccination for preventive purposes is recommended for the following groups:
Men and trans people who are 18 years of age and older and have sex with men and who thus have an increased risk of being infected with mpox. The risk increases, for example, if you have several or new sexual contacts, a recent sexually transmitted disease or receive pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV. In addition, vaccination is recommended for young men and transgender people who are 17 years of age and younger and who belong to one of the above groups.
People who have sex with men for compensation.
People with an increased risk of exposure to mpox and who are judged by the attending physician to need vaccination. For example, vaccination can be offered to individuals who travel to geographical areas with a large spread of infection where exposure to mpox in the immediate environment or in connection with professional practice may constitute an increased risk of infection.
Persons with an increased risk of exposure to mpox where the responsible manager with responsibility for the work environment deems vaccination necessary. For example, laboratory personnel working with cultivation of, or concentrated amounts of, infectious monkeypox virus.
Vaccination after exposure is recommended for the following groups:
People who have had contact with a person who is infected or suspected of being infected with mpox must also be offered vaccination. It can be, for example, sexual contacts or other close contacts such as household contacts, including children. Vaccination should ideally take place within four days of contact.
Source: The Public Health Authority